Introducing the 2014 Jimmy Award Winners

Jai’len Josey and Jonah Rawitz are National High School Musical Theatre Awards winners.

The 6th Annual National High School Musical Awards presented the coveted Jimmy™ Award for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor on Monday, June 30 at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre, to Jai’ Len Josey representing the Georgia High School Musical Theater Awards – Shuler Hensley Awards and Jonah Rawitz, representing the Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards. The Jimmy™ Award is named in honor of James M. Nederlander-the legendary Broadway theater owner and producer. James L. Nederlander, Chairman of The Nederlander Organization, presented both winners with a check for $10,000 to further their education. They will also be eligible for a four-year merit and a need-based scholarship to attend the New Studio on Broadway, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama, contingent upon acceptance into the program.

The ceremony was hosted by 2011 Jimmy Award-winner Ryan McCartan. McCartan recently starred as JD in the Off-Broadway hit musical, Heathers, appears regularly as Diggy in the TV show Liv & Maddie on the Disney Channel, and is a recurring character on the USA Network’s Royal Pains. Andy Karl, star of Rocky: The Musical, also performed alongside the cast to close the show.

The production was directed by Van Kaplan and choreographed by Kiesha Lalama, with musical direction by Michael Moricz.

The annual Broadway-focused talent showcase featured performances by all 56 participants and solos by select finalists. Their Broadway debut followed 5-days of rehearsals and private coaching with faculty at the New Studio on Broadway, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama and other professionals. Students also enjoyed a discussion with award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The students also took in a performance of Kinky Boots and had a talkback with the cast.

Over 1,500 high schools and 60,000 students participate in these annual events. Student performers qualified to compete in the national program by winning top honors at 28 regional high school musical awards competitions presented by Broadway League member performing arts centers. Click here for the list of participating organizations.

Founded in 2009, NHSMTA’s mission is to raise the profile of musical theater in schools, recognize dedicated teachers and inspire the next generation of performers and enthusiasts. Since its inception, the NHSMTA has enabled over $1,000,000 in university and conservatory scholarships to be awarded to talented students at the national and local level-several of whom have already been cast in Broadway, touring and West End productions.

To recognize the important work being done in high schools across the United States, Tony Award-winner Tommy Tune and Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, presented the 2014 League Educator Apple Award® to Vincent Gassetto, Principal of MS 343 Academy of Applied Mathematics and Technology in Bronx, New York (nominated by Situation Interactive in New York, New York); Holly Valentine, Fourth Grade Teacher at Walt Disney Elementary School in Rochester, New York (nominated by the Rochester Broadway Theatre League in Rochester, New York); Maureen Binienda, Principal at South High Community School in Worchester, Massachusetts (nominated by the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Hanover, Massachusetts); and Brian Sammons, Third Grade Teacher at Aplington Elementary in Aplington, Iowa (nominated by Des Moines Performing Arts in Des Moines, Iowa).

The NHSMTA is produced by the Broadway Education Alliance and supported by many leading theater industry organizations including The Broadway League, BWF (Weissler) Foundation, Disney Theatrical Productions, Jujamcyn Theatres, Music Theatre International, Nederlander Organization, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Pittsburgh CLO, Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, Samuel French Library, Shubert Organization, Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc., Ticketmaster and others. To learn more about the National High School Musical Theater Awards and/or to make a donation to the program, please visit nhsmta.com.